KALARI PAYATTU – THE MOTHER OF ALL MARTIAL ARTS…???

I added a question mark in the title because the term mother hardly applies in this context. Mother means a direct or indirect ancestor. Hence, mother of all martial arts means an art to which all martial arts in the world trace a direct or at the least indirect lineage.

It is now a fact, that is slowly being accepted among scholars and Martial Arts enthusiasts, that

“NO MARTIAL ART, IS THE MOTHER MARTIAL ART OF ANY MARTIAL ART”

BUT, This title (Mother fo All Martial Arts) is often given to the South Indian Martial Art “KALARIPAYATTU”.

Being a person from Kerala myself, I was proud to see Kalaripayattu referred this way.

However, my skepticism grew overtime and recently I have started to question the very premise of Kalaripayattu being the originator of all the other martial arts practiced in the world.

I HAVE WRITTEN THIS ARTICLE, SO THAT MANY WHO HAVE FALLEN PREY TO THIS LIE, MAY UNDERSTAND THE TRUTH, AND OTHERS WHO DO NOT KNOW THIS TRUTH, MUST NOT FALL PREY TO SUCH KIND OF LIES, AT LEAST IN THE FUTURE.

KALARIPAYATTU IS NOT THE MOTHER OF ANY MARTIAL ART, NEITHER IS IT THE OLDEST MARTIAL ART; KALARIPAYATTU IS NOT THE OLDEST MARTIAL ART EVEN IN INDIA (RATHER, EVEN IN SOUTH INDIA), HOW THEN CAN IT BE THE OLDEST MARTIAL ART IN THE WORLD…????

Kalaripayattu, as the practitioners and teachers agree togather, it was derived from Dhanur Vedic TEXTS. Dhanur Veda, which is the youngest of all Vedas was written only between the 10^th Century and 12^th Century AD. Dhanur Veda later became a part of Atharva Veda, which is dated to around 1100 BC. BUT, Dhanur Veda and Atharva Veda are NOT to be confused as the same veda. This is why, Phillip B. Zarilli has safely concluded saying, “Kalaripayattu is no older than 13^th Century AD”.

The MYTH that Parashurama receded Kerala out of the Arabian Sea, by throwing his axe into the sea and waited till his axe came out of Arabian Sea, bringing the whole land of Kerala along with it, was written by the Namboothiris only during the late 16^th Century AD, in a book called “Keralolpathi”. (IT IS VERY SAD TO SEE MY INDIAN BROTHERS BELIEVING A 16^TH CENTURY AD BOOK AND CLAIMING THE ORIGIN OF A MARTIAL ART TO BE SINCE, 4000 BC. INDIANS SEEM TO BE SO IGNORANT… )It claims that Parashurama receded Kerala i.e., from Tulu Nadu to Kanyakumari, and taught the Brahmins of that land Kalaripayattu in order to protect Kerala.

BUT, unfortunately, today, Tulu Nadu is in Karnataka and Kanyakumari is in Tamil Nadu.

NOT ONLY THAT, the Travancore Kochi regions of Kerala, i.e, from Kochi and southward (Kochin, Kollam, Trivandrum of Kerala and Kanyakumari of Tamil Nadu practice Adi Murai, which is said to have been given by Sage Agasthya, rather than Parashurama).

Kalari’s teaching Agasthya style Adi Murai (or Thekkan Kalari) are

1. ·    Agasthya Kalari,
2. ·        Nava Bharatha Kalari,
3. ·        Bali Kalari,
4. ·        Atma Reksha Tantra (Dr.  A.K. Porakasan Gurukkal),
5. ·        Jai Hind Kalari,
6. ·        Maruthi Kalari,
7. ·        Buddha Kalari,
8. ·        Aswa Kerala Kalari,
9. ·        KKM Kalari,
10. ·        Anjaneya Kalari,
11. ·        Nadar Thekkan Kalari,
12. ·        Suraj Kalari.

So, does that mean that Parashurama recovered only from Kadathanadu to Calicut, or is Kerala bounded only between Kadathanadu and Calicut…????

The earliest document in India that speaks about Martial Arts is NOT Dhanur Veda, from which Kalaripayattu is derived. The oldest Indian document that exposes the practice of Martial Arts, even before Dhanur Veda was written is Silappadigaram (A Tamil Literature work dated to around 2^nd Century BC). Silappadigaram speaks about the SALE OF SILAMBAM STAVES, SWORDS, SPEARS, PEARLS AND ORNAMENTS TO FOREIGN TRADERS OF ROME AND GREECE.

The Rig Veda speaks of Varma Kalai (the art of Healing and Killing from Tamil Nadu, delivered by the 18 greatest Siddhars), where Indra kills Vritra, by attacking his Marma point with her Vajra. The oldest art, Varma Kalai from Tamil Nadu, is the first mentioned.

Then comes Silambam and then comes

Malyutham referred to in Mahabharatha fougt by Beeman (which is also practiced only in Tamil Nadu).

It is only after the records of these arts, does Kalaripayattu come into existence, during the 13^th Century AD.

The word KALARI in Tamil Sangam Literature, has been proved, that it does not refer to a fighting system by Dick Luijendijk.

Finally, Bodhidharma was born in KANCHIPURAM (the capital of Pallava Dynasty), in present day Tamil Nadu, where KALARIPAYATTU IS NOT A NATIVE MARTIAL ART. While on the other hand, Tamil Nadu itself had many other Martial Arts that outdate Kalaripayattu by many centuries.

BODHIDHARMA DID NOT GO TO CHINA TO TEACH MARTIAL ARTS, BUT TO PREACH CHEN BUDDHISM. If Bodhidharma had learnt Martial Arts, being a King’s son, it could have been the Martial Arts of Tamil Nadu.

What Bodhidharma taught the Shaolin monks was the 18 hands of Lohan, Breathing exercises and “THE HORSE STANCE” (also known as Mabu stance in China, Kiba Dachi in Japan, Kuda Kuda in Malay or Kekuda in Indonesian, Juchum Sogi or Annun Seogi in Korean). Along with these exercises Bodhidharma also taught them blocks, hits and counters as deciphered in the Fresco of the Shaolin Temple.

The 18 hands of Lohan, and breathing exercises are from Kuthu Varisai of Tamil Nadu. The Horse stance taught by Bodhidharma is the same as the “BEAR STANCE” of Kuthu Varisai.

THE HORSES STANCE, 18 HANDS OF LOHAN AND THE BREATHING EXERCISES WITH HITS, BLOCKS AND COUNTERS (DECIPHERED IN THE FRESCO OF THE SHAOLIN TEMPLE) IS CONSIDERED AS “BODHIDHARMA’S TREASURE” IN EASTERN MARTIAL ARTS.

NO OTHER ANIMAL POSTURES OF SHAOLIN KUNG – FU, EXCEPT THE HORSE STANCE IS SIMILAR TO ANY OTHER MARTIAL ARTS OF INDIA.

 NO ANIMAL POSTURES OF KALARIPAYATTU ARE IN ANYWAY RELATED TO SHAOLIN KUNG – FU.

SO, IF BODHIDHARMA HAD TAUGHT THE SHAOLIN MONKS MARTIAL ARTS, IT COULD BE FROM KUTHU VARISAI, RATHER THAN KALARIPAYATTU, WHICH WAS THE NATIVE MARTIAL ART IN THE PLACE OF HIS BIRTH.

BODHIDHARMA IS PORTRAYED AS THE FOUNDER OF SHAOLIN KUNG – FU ONLY AND NOT  CHINESE KUNG – FU….!!!!

CHINESE KUNG – DU DTAES BACK TO AT LEAST 2500 BC

Some notable difference between Shaolin Kung – Fu and Kalaripayattu can be seen below.

SHAOLIN KUNG – FU	KALARIPAYATTU
It  is the martial art with origins dating back to the 5th – 6th Century AD.	It is widely considered to be a battlefield excercise that was  practiced around the 13th century AD.
It is a practical martial art, short straight and powerful lines of attack with a solid stance, Not overtly graceful but highly effective.	It is more graceful and aesthetically pleasing with a lot of  circular movements, extremely low, deep stances and high leaping attacks.
It’s practice has a very pronounced sparring component.	Practice is limited to heavily choreographed sequences till years into training.
It places more emphasis on unarmed combat, weapons come in after one has mastered the unarmed aspect.	It teaches unarmed combat only after weapons training is completed.
It has its origins in Chinese Shaolin Temple and is still practiced there.	Kalari is a martial art from kerala and is still widely practiced there.
It is practiced in the open at different locations and terrain to mimic multiple combat scenarios.	It is practiced in a roofed kalari which has an altar and fixed dimensions.
It has its base in the science of Chinese medicine, WHICH IS A DERIVATIVE OF Siddha Medical System.	Kalari which has a healing bent to it is based on the science of Ayurveda.
Kung Fu Masters are called Sifu	Kalari masters are called Gurukals.
Kung Fu masters teach their students combat techniques and quickly the students then develop their own individual styles of executing these techniques and perfect them according to their own strengths and weaknesses.	Kalari students have to follow the exact syllabus, sequences and techniques step by step and without variation for years until they are told they are masters themselves. Only then can they develop their own style.
Kung Fu does not have elaborate rituals.	It is heavily ritualistic.
Kung Fu is a combat science.	It is a battlefield art.
Kung Fu is practices by Shaolin Temple monks, who are Buddhists.	It is practiced by Brahmins, who are Hindus, and the Kalari serves as a Hindu Temple.

I DO NOT SEE ANY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN KALARIPAYATTU AND ANY OTHER MARTIAL ART.

1. ·        HOW IS KALARIPAYATTU RELATED TO KARATE, KUNG FU, TAEKWON DO, BERSILAT, PENTCAKSILAT…???
2. ·        HOW IS KALARIPAYATTU RELATED TO LERDRIT, MUAY THAI, KICKBOXING, BOXING, KRAV MAGA, KAPAP
3. ·        HOW IS IT RELATED TO JUDO JUJUTSU, AIKIDO, NINJUTSU, SMAURAI ARTS.
4. ·        HOW IS IT RELATED TO PANKRATION, RINGA, MONGOLIAN, SUMO WRESTLINGS….????

IN NO WAY ARE ANY OF THESE ABOVE MENTIONED MARTIAL ARTS LINKED TO KALARIPAYATTU, EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY.

THUS, KALARIPAYATTU IS NOT THE MOTHER OF ANY MARTIAL ART…!!!!

SOME NATIONALISTS DO NOT LIKE THESE KINDS OF NAKED TRUTH…!!!!

TRUTH IS ALWAYS BITTER…!!!!